SLOVAKIA: OSCE HUMAN DIMENSION MEETING DEMARCHE RESPONSE

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000341 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KCOR KJUS UNHRC OSCE LO SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA: OSCE HUMAN DIMENSION MEETING DEMARCHE RESPONSE REF: STATE 78227 ¶1. (U) We delivered reftel points to Marianna Lipkova and Miriam Joklova in the Department of Human Rights, Council of Europe, OSCE and Minorities at the MFA. Lipkova said Slovakia takes the annual OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) seriously. She said the GOS plans on participating but has not yet determined the size or composition of its delegation. ¶2. (U) On the points specifically related to Slovakia, Lipkova said the MFA is familiar with U.S. concerns. Lipkova stated that these concerns are best raised in a bilateral rather than multilateral setting, especially because Slovakia and the U.S. are allies. ¶3. (U) Lipkova's comments echo the GOS position taken in a July 21 meeting between Veronika Lombardini, Director of the Human Rights Department at the MFA, and DRL's Susan Corke. At that meeting, Lombardini expressed her deep frustration with the U.S. positions at the OSCE and UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC),which were critical of the treatment of Roma in police custody and former Justice Minister Harabin. Lombardini said the public U.S. comments weakened our common stance as human rights protectors and distracted the multilateral bodies from more pressing and egregious human rights violations, particularly in the OSCE region. ¶4. (U) Grouping two of the three Slovakia-specific points together, Lipkova said there is a judicial process on corruption and media intimidation issues. She said the right to appeal a legal ruling exists in such cases where a party continues to feel aggrieved. ¶5. (U) On Roma issues, Lipkova said the GOS has addressed these concerns in other international fora, including the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process in the UNHRC. Lipkova said the issue has been adequately explained in these fora, and the GOS has already taken steps to address Roma discrimination issues. ¶6. (U) Lipkova and Joklova said they would share the reftel points with their colleagues and advise us if they have any further comments. EDDINS